August Burns Red has a mega-sized fan base. Let’s just take their Facebook “likes” as an indicator of that: 807,942 “likes” as of this writing. That’s a shitload. Now, I don’t mean to suggest we’re in awe or anything — we’re closing in on that number ourselves. With just 807,651 more likes, our NCS Facebook page will tie August Burns Red’s. So, we’re not in awe, we’re just stating the fact: For a metal band with a hardcore edge of extremity to their sound, they’ve built an unusually large empire of fandom.

The three of us who originally founded this site are among those fans, and we’ve posted about them a lot since we started NCS. They’re not as extreme as most bands we write about here, but they’re smart, creative songwriters, they play with passion, and their musical output shows they’re not standing still. Oh yeah, their songs are also distinctive and really memorable — so much so that we named ABR’s song “Meridian” (from the Constellations album) to our inaugural list of The Ten Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs of 2009.

ABR has a follow-up to Constellations due for release on June 21, called Leveler. It features that interesting cover art above (by Jordan Crane) showing a house that’s been leveled (see what they did there?) by a tornado or hurricane or some kind of disaster, but with life going on anyway. Or at least chicken life. It’s not your typical metal cover, but we still thought it was eye-catching.

With the album release fast approaching, ABR has begun the process of fan titillation by uploading the first song from the album for streaming. It’s called, naturally enough, “Empire”, and it’s a metalcore bruiser. After the jump, we’ve got that song for you plus some additional details about the album.

The album is going to come in “regular” and “deluxe” additions.  The deluxe version includes (in addition to the 12 tracks on the regular edition) four bonus tracks: An acoustic version of the ABR song “Internal Cannon” that’s supposed to include “some mariachi flare” plus a guitar solo by producer extraordinaire Jason Suecof; a cover of another ABR song called “Pangaea” by a post-rock band by the name of Bells; a shreddy piano version of “Boys of Fall” by an artist named Zach Veilleux; and the original MIDI version of “Empire”.

And that brings us right back ’round to “Empire”. The band has recently been playing this song at their live shows, but this is the first chance we’ve gotten to hear the album version, and it’s a hot number: fast, convulsive rhythms; vitriolic hardcore vocals; a memorable guitar solo; a mix of body-blows and melody that’s already taking root in our craniums.

Not long ago, we wrote about the new song released by Unearth. “Empire” is yet another reminder that despite the absolute flood of metalcore bands that have rained down and crested the river banks over the last decade, the good ones are still capable of creating music that’s worth hearing. I’m not sure it’s even possible to break new ground within the genre, but ABR (like Unearth) reminds us of why we got caught up in this kind of music years ago and why we think it still has something to offer. Check out “Empire”:

A whole bunch of different Leveler bundles are now available for pre-order at this location.

What the hell is that big yellow thing up in the sky? It looks vaguely familiar, but it’s appeared so rarely here in The Emerald City over the last six months that we’re having trouble placing the name. Well, maybe the name will come to us. The great wheel of the seasons surely must continue to turn someplace, but in Seattle it seems to have been stuck on Winter since, like, forever. In some parts of the world, April showers bring May flowers, but here, April showers will probably bring . . . May showers.

Okay, enough whining. At least we don’t get tornados dropping from the sky like atom bombs and wiping whole towns off the map. And even though the weather hasn’t been our friend, we have metal to make up for the cold shoulder — and there’s a bunch of new metal headed our way.

What we do with these installments of METAL IN THE FORGE is collect news blurbs and press releases we’ve seen over the last month about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like (including updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know them yet. And in this post, we cut and paste the announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

This isn’t a cumulative list, so be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported in previous installments. This month’s list begins right after the jump. Look for your favorite bands, or get intrigued about some new ones.

AMORPHIS: “‘You I Need‘, the new single from Finnish metallers AMORPHIS, is available for streaming at this location. The song, which will be released digitally in Finland on April 20 and in other countries on April 22, comes off the band’s new album, The Beginning Of Times, due on May 27 via Nuclear Blast Records.”

AUGUST BURNS RED: “Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Christian metalcore quintet AUGUST BURNS RED has set Leveler as the title of its fourth album, due on June 21 via the band’s longtime label Solid State Records. For Leveler, AUGUST BURNS RED re-teamed with super producer Jason Suecof, the man behind the board on the band’s previous CD, 2009′s Constellations. The result is an album that pushes the band’s sonic boundaries in every direction, and yet is unquestionably heavier than its predecessor.”

BEHEMOTH: “The masters of Polish blackened death metal BEHEMOTH have set Abyssus Abyssum Invocat as the title to the band’s expanded repackaging of their early 2000′s EPs “Conjuration” and “Slaves Shall Serve”. Set for release in the U.S. on June 7 via Metal Blade Records,Abyssus Abyssum Invocat features both EPs remastered and includes bonus tracks, new artwork, and new liner notes from BEHEMOTH frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski.”

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER: “Michigan’s unstoppable sons of molten melodic death metal THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER will release their new album, Ritual, in Europe on June 17 and in North America on June 21 via Metal Blade Records. The effort will also be available as a box set, limited to 2,000 units including special, exclusive digibook, witch board, magic wand, sage, incense sticks and coffin nails. The CD was once again be produced by Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, BURY YOUR DEAD, DEICIDE), who also worked on 2009′s Deflorate.

BLOOD MORTIZED: “BLOOD MORTIZED — the Swedish death metal band featuring former AMON AMARTH guitarist Anders “Hansson” Biazzi (who played on AMON AMARTH’s first two albums, 1996′s “Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds” and 1998′s “Once Sent From The Golden Hall”) and CRYPT OF KERBEROS drummer Mattias Borgh — has inked a deal with Chaos Records for the release of the group’s Bestial EP. The effort was recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by drummer Mattias Borgh at Underworld Recording in Sweden. The four-song EP features artwork by Thomas Kynst and Daniel Devilish and is slated for a June/July 2011 release on both CD and vinyl format.”

BOOK OF BLACK EARTH: “Seattle, WA blackened death metal outfit Book Of Black Earth, will release their new album, The Cold Testament, on May 24th via Prosthetic Records. The album was tracked with Chris Common (Pelican, The Sword) at the Red Room Studio in Seattle and mixed and mastered by Dan Swano (Bloodbath, Nasum, Opeth) at Unisound in Sweden.”

BRUTAL TRUTH: “BRUTAL TRUTH (Kevin Sharp: vocals, Dan Lilker: bass, Richard Hoak: drums, Erik Burke: guitar) has completed work on their brand new full-length album titled End Time. BRUTAL TRUTH recorded End Time with Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY. The self-produced album was mixed by Jason P.C. at Goatsound Studios and is currently being mastered by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound. . . . End Time is expected to see a late summer 2011 release date with additional album information will be made available shortly.”

CHROME DIVISION: “CHROME DIVISION, the Norwegian five-piece featuring DIMMU BORGIR frontman Shagrath (a.k.a. Stian Thoresen) on guitar, will release its third album, 3rd Round Knockout, in Europe on May 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Marius Strand Studio in Oslo.”

DAWN OF DISEASE: “German death metallers DAWN OF DISEASE will release their debut album, Legends Of Brutality, on April 29 via Noise Art Records. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge Studio (GOD DETHRONED, DEW-SCENTED, SINISTER) with producer Jörg Uken.”

DEGRADEAD: “Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metallers DEGRADEAD will release their third album, A World Destroyer, in North America on June 28 via Metalville Records. The CD was recorded at Peter Tägtgren‘s (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden, with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW).”

DERANGED: “‘Depraved And Zombified‘, a brand new song from Swedish death metal masters DERANGED, is available for streaming in a YouTube clip . . . The song comes off the band’s eighth full-length album, Cut, Carve, Rip, Serve, which is scheduled for release in May via Sevared Records. The CD was recorded at Berno Studio in Malmö, Sweden.”

DESCENDING: “After a long period of intensive work in Greece and Sweden along with producer Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) at Fredman studios, Athens, Greece-based death/thrash metal band DESCENDING has completed work the follow-up to its debut album, Enter Annihilation, which was released in European and Japanese markets in 2008-2009. The as-yet-untitled new CD will be made available on September 23 via Massacre Records. A brand new digital single will be posted online on June 1.”

THE DEVASTATED: “THE DEVASTATED, the Southern California-based band featuring former members of IMPENDING DOOM and OBLIGE, has inked a deal with Century Media Records. The band is currently in the studio with young producer Chris Eck recording its debut album for a summer release. The CD will be mixed later this month with Daniel Castleman at Lambesis Studios in San Diego, California.”

EARTH CRISIS: “Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have set Neutralize The Threat as the title of their seventh album, due on July 12 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Chris “Zeuss” Harris (SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED). ”

EXELOUME: “Norwegian death/thrashers EXELOUME have inked a deal with the Swedish label ViciSolum Productions as their first non-Swedish band. The group’s debut album, Fairytale Of Perversion, will be released on Friday, May 13. Produced by Rune Stavnesli (KEEP OF KALESSIN,BLOODTHORN) and mixed/mastered by Dan Swanö, the CD does features guest appearances from Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) and Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE). The artwork was created by Ed Repka (DEATH, ATHEIST, MEGADETH).”

ELITIST: “Portland, Oregon-based grind/death metal act ELITIST will release its debut album, Fear In A Handful Of Dust, on June 21 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist’s Underground Activists division. The CD is described in a press release as a ‘wild piece of old-school death metal mixed with sludgecore influences.’”

FALCONER: “Swedish metallers FALCONER will release their seventh album, Armod, in Europe on June 3 via Metal Blade Records. The CD features 11 songs completely sung in Swedish and four bonus tracks that are said to be English versions of the bandmembers’ favorite new songs. Armod was once again recorded at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque‘s Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.”

FATHER BEFOULED: “American death metal act FATHER BEFOULED has inked a deal with Dark Descent Records for the release of the group’s third album, Revulsion Of Seraphic Grace, on CD and LP formats. The effort will be recorded in August 2011 and is tentatively due before the end of the year. A new split seven-inch single with Chile’s DEMONIC RAGE will be made available in May, featuring the FATHER BEFOULED song“Abolition of the Seraphic Vestige”.”

GALLHAMMER: “GALLHAMMER — the Japanese extreme metal group that draws on black metal, doom metal, and crust punk — will release its third studio album, The End, on May 31 via Peaceville Records. A mini-site for the CD containing an album teaser, desktop background, free song download, and more can be accessed at this location.”

GHOST BRIGADE: “Finnish metallers GHOST BRIGADE have completed work on their third album, Until Fear No Longer Defines Us, for a late summer release via Season Of Mist.”

GOATWHORE: “New Orleans extreme metallers GOATWHORE will enter the studio in late July to begin recording their new album for a late 2011 release.”

HATE ETERNAL: “The first in a six-part series of clips featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Phoenix Amongst The Ashes, the new album from Florida-based extreme metal veterans HATE ETERNAL, can be viewed below. Due on May 10 via Metal Blade Records, the CD was recorded at HATE ETERNAL mainman Erik Rutan’s Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York.”

KRISIUN: “KRISIUN will enter Stage One Studios in Bühne, Germany in May to begin recording its eighth full-length album for a fall release via Century Media Records. The CD will once again be produced by Andy Classen, who previously worked with the band on the Conquerors Of Armageddon (1999), AssasiNation (2005) and Southern Storm (2008) releases.”

MACHINE HEAD: “San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD will enter GREEN DAY‘s Jingletown Studios in Oakland, California this Saturday, April 16 to begin recording their as-yet-untitled seventh album for a late summer release via Roadrunner Records.”

MALIGNO: “Mexican doom rockers MALIGNO will release their third album, The Funeral Domine, in May. The CD was recorded by MALIGNO at La Nave studios in Monterrey, Mexico and was mixed at 7hertz Studios in Los Angeles, California with American producer/engineer Billy Anderson (MELVINS, NEUROSIS, CATHEDRAL, SLEEP). The effort was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (CONVERGE,HATEBREED, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) in New Windsor, New York. The Funeral Domine features collaborations with the acclaimed Mexican guitar duo RODRIGO Y GABRIELA and TESTAMENT guitar legend Alex Skolnick.”

CHRISTIAN MUENZNER: “Guitarist Christian Muenzner (OBSCURA) has revealed the cover artwork and track listing for his upcoming, all-instrumental solo album, Timewarp. The CD features Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, BLOTTED SCIENCE) on drums and Daniel Galmarini (MERCURYFALLING) on keyboards, with bass duties split between Steve DiGiorgio (DEATH, SADUS, ex-TESTAMENT, ex-ICED EARTH) and Jacob Schmidt (DEFEATED SANITY). Due by the end of April, it features guest appearances by Shrapnel recording artists Derek Taylor, Per Nilsson (SCAR SYMMETRY, KAIPA), Ryan Knight (THE BLACK DAHLIAMURDER, ex-ARSIS), Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND) and Alex Guth (STORMWARRIOR).”

HIDEOUS DIVINITY: “Italian death metallers HIDEUOS DIVINITY have inked a multi-album deal with Unique Leader Records. The band’s debut album, Obeisance Rising, will be released in June. The CD was recorded at the renowned 16th Cellar Studios by mastermind Stefano “Saul” Morabito, the man who has turned the knobs on Italy’s most acclaimed extreme productions. The lyrical concept is based on John Carpenter‘s immortal masterstroke “They Live”.

INFESTUS: “German black metal heathens INFESTUS will release their new album,“E x | I s t”, on May 19 in North America (one day earlier internationally) via Debemur Morti Productions.”

MY DYING BRIDE: “2010 marked the 20th anniversary of U.K. doom metal legends MY DYING BRIDE. To commemorate two decades of doom and gloom from the elite British act, the band embarked upon a special project to re-work familiar melodies and themes from its extensive catalogue into long, flowing symphonic compositions, incorporating new vocals and passages from vocalist, Aaron Stainthorpe. These arrangements have been brought to life in co-operation with keyboard maestro Johnny Maudling (of BAL-SAGOTH fame), as well as a clutch of talented classical musicians, and shared vocals courtesy of professional opera singer Lucie Roche. The collection — titled “Evinta” — will be released on May 31 via Peaceville Records as a two-disc set and deluxe three-disc edition with 64-page book inspired by MY DYING BRIDE’s illustrious recordings of the past two decades.”

NECROPHAGIA: “Legendary gore metal pioneers NECROPHAGIA will release their new album, Deathtrip 69, on May 17 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist. The band’s fifth official full-length CD, which features guest appearances by Maniac (SKITLIV, ex-MAYHEM) and Casey Chaos (AMEN), was recorded at Last House On The Left Studios in Ohiowith vocalist Killjoy and guitarist Boris Randall handling production duties. The cover concept and title track are based on the “Manson family” ordeal of the late 1960s.”

NOCTEM: “Spanish black/death metallers NOCTEM will release their sophomore album, Oblivion, on June 13 via Rising Records. A “signed limited tour edition” of the CD will be made available in Spain on May 24.”

ORIGIN: “American technical death metal innovators ORIGIN will release their new album, Entity, on June 7 in North America and June 10 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.”

POISONBLACK: “POISONBLACK — the Finnish band featuring former SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala — will release its fifth album, now titled Drive (working title was “Lead & Roll Vol. 5″), in Scandinavia on April 27 via Hype Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST).”

QUEENSRŸCHE: “Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE will release their twelfth studio album, Dedicated To Chaos, on June 28 in North America via Loud & Proud Records, a Roadrunner Records imprint focusing on established artists. The band is currently planning a tour in support of the new opus, which was recorded in the group’s hometown and produced by Kelly Gray.”

REVOCATION: “REVOCATION has recently completed work on their brand new album titled Chaos of Forms. The band recorded Chaos of Forms at Damage Studios in Southbridge, Massachusetts with engineer Pete Rutcho. The follow-up to the band’s break-through Relapse debut Existence Is Futile will feature 12 new tracks totaling a little over 45 minutes in length. An August 2011 release date is expected with additional album information to be posted soon.”

SCAR SYMMETRY: “The Unseen Empire, the new album from Swedish progressive melodic death metallers SCAR SYMMETRY, will be released on April 15 in Europe and May 17 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records.”

SUICIDE SILENCE: “California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE have set The Black Crown as the title of their new album, tentatively due in July via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with heavyweight producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, HATEBREED) and will feature the following songtitles, among others: “Human Violence”, “Cancerous Skies” and “Fuck Everything”.

SUPREME PAIN: “Dutch brutal death metallers SUPREME PAIN, who feature in their ranks members of SINISTER, CONSOLATION, PUTREFIED and FONDLECORPSE, have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band’s third album, Divine Incarnation was recorded at Soundlodge Studiosin Leer, Germany with producer Jörg Uken and is scheduled for release on May 27. According to the group, the album will contain “nine blasting death metal tracks with an evil and twisted atmosphere.”"

SYBREED: “Swiss metallers SYBREED have recorded a new song called “Challenger”, which will be released for download on April 23 exclusively on iTunes. The track will be enhanced with three “ass-kicking” remixes from BAK XIII, Voicians and Drop. The Challenger EP is a standalone release, meant to serve as a sneak preview of the “catchy” kind of material SYBREED is working on for its next CD, tentatively due in the spring of 2012. ”

TRAPPED UNDER ICE: “Baltimore, MD hardcore band Trapped Under Ice will enter the studio in June to begin recording a new full-length titled Big Kiss Goodnight. The effort will be produced by Chad Gilbert (of New Found Glory) and engineered by Paul Miner (Death By Stereo, Terror). A late-fall release via Reaper Records is planned.”

UNEARTH: “US metallers Unearth have revealed their upcoming new album will be titled Darkness In The Light. Darkness In The Light is due for a Summer-2011 release via Metal Blade Records. The album was recorded at Zing Studios in Massachusetts, US with producer Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage guitarist).”

VADER: “Polish extreme metal veterans VADER entered Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland last month to begin recording their new album,Welcome To The Morbid Reich. The band is laying down a total of 12 songs for the CD, which will be mixed and mastered in May for a tentative late 2011 release.”

VOIVOD: “Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD will release a new live album, Warriors Of Ice, in the U.S. on June 21 via Sonic Unyon Metal. The CD, which can already be purchased digitally, will be made available in Canada on June 17 through Indica Records.”

YGGDRASIL: “Swedish folk metal masters YGGDRASIL will release their new album,Irrbloss (English translation: “Will-o-wisps”) on April 25 via Grand Master Music. The long-awaited follow up to 2008′s Vedergällning was recorded, mixed and mastered at Grand Master Audio in Sweden.”

NCS is going to the dogs today. Within an hour of putting up our first post, which featured dog balls and Bury Your Dead, I saw this awesome video. It was like serendipity. Or synchronicity. I can never remember the difference between those words, though I like both of them. Anyway, I felt like someone was trying to tell me something. Someone was saying, “you shall make NCS all about dogs today”. And I am obeying.

The song on this video is by August Burns Red, a band that all three of your NCS co-founders like a bunch. It’s called “The Eleventh Hour” and it’s on the band’s 2007 album, Messengers. It’s a good song. It would be worth hearing again today even if the video image were just an unchanging black screen. But what goes on in this video is funny as shit to watch. The guy who’s operating the dog’s paws is clearly a drummer (though I don’t think it’s ABR’s Matt Greiner, despite a resemblance) and clearly knows the drum track on this song pretty damned well. And the changing expressions on the dog’s face are priceless (particularly the teeth-baring).

You know he’s a good dog, because although you can see that he’d like to bite the shit out of the dude’s hands, he’s holding back.

P.S. Someone out there is going to be offended by this. I’m pretty soft-hearted when it comes to animals and pretty sensitive when it comes to human abuse of animals, but there’s no real harm done here.

Well, fuck it. This is clearly new-video Friday. Seems like about every hour of the day so far a new video has popped up on our radar screen. And there’s really no reason why we should stop with those Animals As Leaders videos we put up earlier today. We’ll just continue putting up videos for as long as we see new ones to put up. How ’bout that?

Just tell your boss or your teachers or whoever is attempting to control your lives today to just fuck right off, get yourself a big ol’ fucking bag of popcorn, and just veg out and watch metal videos all day. Because at this rate, we’ll find a dozen more new ones before we call it quits today.

So, here’s what we’ve got so far: A brand new video for the title track from the new album by The Absence (“Enemy Unbound”); a brand new performance video from August Burns Red off their forthcoming live CD/DVD (the song is “Barn Burner”); and a new video from a California black-metal band called Valdur (the song is called “Vicious Existence”). Get the popcorn and go see ‘em after the jump . . . (and don’t get faked out by our screen capture up at the top — clicking on that arrow won’t start the video, which is after the jump).

THE ABSENCE

Metalunderground.com is hosting the world premiere of The Absence’s new music video for “Enemy Unbound”, the title track from the band’s new album, released on September 14. The album is great and so’s this song. It’s a melodic blend of thrash and death that includes the band’s trademark guitar solos.

Oh, and even though we figured out how to put this video on our site, you should still go to Metalunderground.com, because they’ve got a related interview up on the same page plus tour dates for The Absence.

AUGUST BURNS RED

Okay, all you metalcore-and-breakdown-haters out there, just take a deep breath and don’t get too flummoxed or pissed off over the fact that we’re putting up this video. All of us here at NCS are big fans of August Burns Red, and that’s just the way it is. We have great memories of seeing this band play, and this brand new video is a memory-jogger for those experiences.

This is a clip from the band’s forthcoming CD/DVD called Home, which is scheduled for release in the near future and is available for pre-order here.  The performance was recorded in the band’s hometown of Manheim, Pennsylvania before a sold-out crowd of 1250. The high-pitched portion of the vocals don’t come off too well on this one, but it was still fun for us to watch, and maybe some of you will think so, too.

VALDUR

Valdur is a traditional black/death-metal band from Mammoth Lakes, California, in the eastern Sierra Mountains. We’ve heard and read good things about but them, but haven’t yet gotten around to checking out their music — until this morning, when we received a press release about this video.

It’s not exactly a video, because it’s mainly a shifting array of still images of nature taken by the band within the Mammoth Lakes area. But the photos are pleasing to the eye, and the music is pleasing to the ears.

The song is dense and atmospheric, and in its sound and mood, it matches the wintry beauty of the pictures.  Valdur, by the way, released their first full-length album (Raven God Amongst Us) earlier this summer. Their MySpace page is here.

We’re now a full four months into 2010, and it’s time for our fourth update to the list of forthcoming new albums we posted on January 1. (See the original list here, the first update here, the second update here, and the third update here.) Below is a list of still more projected new releases that we didn’t know about on January 1 or at the time of our last three updates (or that we’ve found updated information about) — and the new sickness is still spreading in epidemic proportions.

Once again, we’ve cobbled together news blurbs about bands whose past work we’ve liked, or who look interesting for other reasons. Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway), these are bands that mostly fit the profile of music we cover on this site.

So, in alphabetical order, here’s our list of cut-and-pasted blurbs from various sources since our last update about forthcoming new releases. Look for the bands you like and put reminders on your calendar. Or if you’re old school like us, just get em tattooed someplace you can see without a mirror (because reading stuff backwards is hard).

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS: “Abigail Williams have completed recording of individual performances for their still untitled second full-length. Captured at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, eight new songs were laid down with vocalist/guitarist Ken Sorceron and engineer Cole Martinez controlling the audio takes. The songs are currently being mixed by Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) and are expected to be completed later this month.”

ABYSMAL DAWN: “Los Angeles-based metallers ABYSMAL DAWN will enter Trench Studio in Corona, California in May with producer John Haddad (PHOBIA, INTRONAUT, HIRAX) to begin recording their new album for a tentative fall release via Relapse Records. The follow-up to Programmed To Consume will be mixed by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL, VITAL REMAINS, CANNIBAL CORPSE) at his Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida.”  (the list continues after the jump .  .)

ALL THAT REMAINS: “All That Remains fans can rejoice. The band is set to begin recording the follow up to 2008′s Overcome, their biggest-selling release to date. Pre-production begins this week at Zing Recording Studios in Westfield, MA on the as-yet-untitled album. Returning to the producer’s chair is Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who previously helmed the band’s 2006 release The Fall Of Ideals as well as 2004′s This Darkened Heart.”

ANTAGONIST: “Southern California’s Antagonist has completed preproduction for their new album and will enter Buzzbomb Studios in Orange, CA on May 12th, with producer Paul Miner, who has worked on past efforts from Terror, New Found Glory, Thrice, Throwdown, among others. The band will be tracking ten songs for the as-of-yet untitled follow-up to 2008′s Exist. This will be the first recording featuring new members, guitarist Roland Leonard and bassist Nick Reyes.”

ARMAGEDON: “ARMAGEDON, one of the most recognizable Polish death metal acts of the early Nineties, will release its new album, Death Then Nothing, outside the band’s home country on May 17 via Mystic Production. The CD was recorded at Studio X (ANTIGAMA, VESANIA) in Olsztyn and it contains ’10 tracks of classic death metal with a fresh, up-to-date sound,’ according to a press release.”

AUGUST BURNS RED: “The band will be performing at hometown (Lancaster, PA) venue Warehouse 54 on June 4th, with the concert being recorded and filmed for a live CD/DVD to be released later this year through longtime label home Solid State Records.”

BLACK TUSK: “Embrace The Madness, a brand new track from Savannah, Georgia’s BLACK TUSK, is avaialble for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The song comes off the band’s forthcoming album, Taste The Sin, which is scheduled for release on May 25 via Relapse Records.”

BLEED FROM WITHIN: “Hamilton, Scotland-based metal quintet BLEED FROM WITHIN will release its sophomore album, Empire, on May 4 via Rising Records. The CD was mixed at Outhouse Studios and ‘it has captured our sound entirely,’ according to the band.”

BLINDED BY FAITH: “BLINDED BY FAITH recently entered the studio to record three new songs (“The Pace Of The Race”, “Dead End” and “Drastic Medicine”), to be used to procure a new record deal. During the process, the band was working with Antoine Baril (ex-AUGURY drummer), Yannick St-Amand (DESPISED ICON, BENEATH THE MASSACRE) and Pierre Rémillard (ANONYMUS, MISERY INDEX, MARTYR).”

CRIPPLE BASTARDS: “Italy’s Cripple Bastards will release a new 7″ EP through Relapse Records this fall. The band is also writing for a brand new full-length that is expected to see a 2011 release date. Cripple Bastards has previously released four full-length albums and a number of split releases. The band’s latest release, Variante alla morte, was released in 2008 via Shane Embury’s FETO Records.”

DEATH ANGEL: “DEATH ANGEL recently entered Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL,DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording its new album for a tentative September release via Nuclear Blast Records.”

DECREPIT BIRTH: “Oakland CA’s tech-death masters, Decrepit Birth, have completed work on their new album Polarity to be released on July 27th in North America. Drums were recorded at Sharkbite Studios (Exodus) with producer Zack Ohren (All Shall Perish, Suffocation, Immolation) while all other tracking was handled by Matt Sotelo before being mixed by Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios.”

DEGRADEAD: “Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metallers DEGRADEAD have entered Peter Tägtgren‘s (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW) to begin recording their third album for a late 2010 release.”

DEMIRICIOUS: “Indiana death/thrash metal outfit Demiricous recently started tracking a new demo, which the band will self-release in limited quantities. The demo will be comprised of four songs, clocking in at 22 minutes of music. Meanwhile, the group continues to search for a new label (Demiricous and Metal Blade parted ways in early-2009).”

THE DEMONSTRATION: “North Carolina’s The Demonstration are hard at work on their third studio album, the followup to 2008′s Accidents With Intelligence. The band is planning to record the currently untitled album this summer that is tentatively slated for a fall release.”

EQUILIBRIUM: “German pagan metallers EQUILIBRIUM will release their new album, Rekreatur, on June 18 via Nuclear Blast Records.”

THE HAUNTED: “Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED will release a live DVD/CD, Road Kill, in North America on June 8 via Century Media. This crushing live release, which was issued in Europe on April 19, will be available as a DVD+CD as well as a stand-alone CD and digital download. The audio-only release contains the full live-show as well as five previously unreleased or rare studio tracks from the “Versus” recording sessions.”

HEAVEN SHALL BURN: “German death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN will release their new album, Invictus, via Century Media Records on the following dates: Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Friday, May 21; Spain, Italy : Tuesday, May 25; Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, May 26; Rest Of Europe: Monday, May 24; North America: Tuesday, June 8.”

KNUT: “Swiss experimental rock/hardcore hybrid Knut will release a new full-length this summer. The album, titled Wonder, was recorded in January at Rec Studio in Geneva, Switzerland with Serge Morattel (Brazen) at the helm and will hit stores on June 29th via Hydra Head Records (Conspiracy Records in Europe). Isis frontman (and Hydra Head owner) Aaron Turner will provide artwork for the release.”

KYLESA: “Savannah, Georgia’s Kylesa has joined the Season of Mist roster following several releases with Prosthetic Records. . . . Next month [May] Kylesa will enter Jam Room Recording Studio (Baroness) in Columbia, SC to begin tracking their next album.”

MALEVOLENT CREATION: “Florida death metal veterans MALEVOLENT CREATION have completed work on their eleventh album, Invidious Dominion, for an August 27 European release via Germany’s Massacre Records. The effort will made available as a regular CD; digipack with bonus material; and vinyl LP.”

MISERY INDEX: “A brand new MISERY INDEX track, “Carrion Call”, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The song comes off the group’s new album, Heirs To Thievery, which is set for a May 11 North American release via Relapse Records.”

MUSICA DIABLO: “MUSICA DIABLO — the São Paulo, Brazil-based thrash metal project featuring SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, guitarist André L.A. (NITROMINDS), bassist Ricardo Brigas, guitarist André Germani Curci (KORZUS, THREAT) and drummer Edu Nicollini (NITROMINDS) — will release its self-titled debut album on May 28 via SAOL / H’Art /Zebralution.”

NEURAXIS: “Montreal-based death metallers Neuraxis have confirmed producer Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Last Felony, The Agonist) to record and mix their new album. Neuraxis will enter Wildsound Studio on June 3rd to begin the recording for a fall release through Prosthetic Records. The as of yet untitled album is the follow-up to 2008′s The Thin Line Between, and will be their sixth album, overall.”

NORMA JEAN: “Fans of Norma Jean won’t have to wait much longer to hear the bands’ fifth album Meridional, which will be released July 13th on Razor & Tie. Meridional revisits the abrasive and chaotic roots of classic Norma Jean while offering fans a dark experimental side – the band stretching out on moody, slow-burn jams. It is an album that finds the band comfortable in its legacy but progressive and bold in its creativity.”

PATHOLOGY: “American brutal death metal masters, Pathology, make their return from the studio with a perfected encompassment of musical extremities entitled, Legacy of the Ancients. The upcoming Victory Records debut, slated for release on July 6th, was engineered by Jeff Forest (As I Lay Dying, Bleeding Through) at Doubletime Studios in the band’s home base of San Diego, CA and was mixed and mastered by Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation) at Mana Recording Studios in Tampa, FL.”

RUSH TRIBUTE COMPILATION: “The Magna Carta tribute to RUSH, New World Man, features performances by members of COHEED AND CAMBRIA, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THE MARS VOLTA, KORN, DREAM THEATER, TESTAMENT, SEPULTURA, SKID ROW and more. . . . New World Man will be available worldwide on May 18.”

SEPTICFLESH: “According to Metalzone.gr, Greek extreme metallers SEPTICFLESH are hard at work on material for their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The recording process is scheduled to begin mid-summer at the band’s own newly built Devasoundz studios in Athens. Once again the orchestral parts will be recorded in Prague under the guidance of Chris Antoniou (CHAOSTAR).”

SEVERE TORTURE: “Dutch death metallers SEVERE TORTURE will release their fifth full-length album, Slaughtered, on June 29 (one day earlier internationally) via Season of Mist. The CD was recorded at Split Second Sound Studios in Amsterdam with producer Jochem Jacobs.”

SKYFORGER: “Kurbads, the new album from Latvian pagan metal kings SKYFORGER, is scheduled for release in Europe on April 26 and in North America on May 11 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at the Latvian studio Lauska with the group’s own bagpipe player, Kaspars Barbals, handling engineering duties. The bandmembers also produced the album themselves to make sure the recording sounds authentic and ’100% like SKYFORGER.’”

BRENDON SMALL-GENE HOGLUND: “Brendon Small, co-creator of ‘Metalocalypse’, the smash hit animated series on Adult Swim featuring the fictitious metal band DETHKLOK, told Metal Injection at the the Revolver Golden Gods Awards that he is working on a new side project with Gene Hoglan (FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, TESTAMENT, DEATH, DARK ANGEL). He said: ‘I’m finishing the season then I’m going into the studio and I’m finishing a solo record that me and Gene Hoglan, and the same DETHKLOK producer did, so if you like DETHKLOK, it’ll be the same thing, and it’ll come out this fall.’”

SONIC SYNDICATE: “The European release date for We Rule The Night, the new album from Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE, has once again been pushed back — this time to August 27 (via Nuclear Blast Records).”

SWASHBUCKLE: “New Jersey’s thrashing pirates SWASHBUCKLE have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, Crime Always Pays, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. The group states, ‘That’s right, jerks, the thrash band with a pirate problem is back in action crafting malicious metal jams with tales of piratical shenannigans. It’s gonna be a heavy record, so expect to beat the shit out of your siblings and parental units whilst ye get caught in a mosh. . . Let me assure you that it’ll thrash your fucking brains into your butthole.’”

TERROR: “Terror has entered the studio to begin recording their new full-length, Keepers of the Faith. The effort is being produced by New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert and engineered by Paul Miner (Thrice, Atreyu). A late-summer release via Century Media Records is expected. The band has set up a blog to document their time in the studio.”

THULCANDRA: “THULCANDRA — the reactivated German black/death metal band featuring members of OBSCURA, DARK FORTRESS and HELFAHRT — will release its new album, Fallen Angels Dominion, on June 2 in Europe and June 8 in North America via Napalm Records.”

TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED: “British death/grind band TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED has completed work on its third album, Degenerate, for a May 24 European release via Metal Blade Records (Rising Records in the U.K.). The cover artwork was created by Collin Marks (WHITECHAPEL, ABORTED, SUICIDE SILENCE).”

VANISHER: “No, [Zero System] didn’t break-up; the band – which features members of Bloodjinn and Glass Casket – has just changed their name to Vanisher. They’ve also announced an August 10 release date for their new full-length, The History of Saints.”

WATAIN: “Swedish black metallers WATAIN will release their fourth album, Lawless Darkness, on June 7 via Season Of Mist. . . . The digipak version will include a cover of the DEATH SS song “Chains of Death” as a bonus track. The song can also be heard on the “Reaping Death” picture seven-inch single, due April 30 and available for pre-order on Season of Mist‘s e-shop.”

WHITECHAPEL: “Knoxville, Tennessee’s Whitechapel is pleased to release the cover art and track listing for their third full-length release, A New Era of Corruption, due out June 8th via Metal Blade Records. ‘The album is finally 100% complete and we couldn’t be more excited. I think this record truly represents where we are as musicians at this point in our career. A New Era of Corruption is the heaviest and most aggressive material we have written to date,’ comments guitarist and founding member Alex Wade.”

WITCHERY: “Sweden’s WITCHERY will release a new album, Witchkrieg, on July 18 via Century Media Records. The CD will mark the recording debut of the band’s new vocalist, Legion (MARDUK, DEVIAN).”

YAKUZA: “Avant-garde progressive experimental metal band YAKUZA will release its new album, Of Seismic Consequence, on June 8 via Profound Lore Records. The CD was recorded at Semaphore Recording Studios in Chicago, Illinois with producer Sanford Parker (PELICAN, MINSK).”

The three of us who collaborate on this site don’t always agree in our estimation of metal bands, but all of us are big fans of August Burns Red. They’re not as heavy as most bands we write about here, but they’re smart, creative songwriters, they play with passion, and their musical output shows they’re not standing still. Oh yeah, their songs are also distinctive and really memorable — so much so that we named ABR’s song “Meridian” (from the Constellations album) to our list of The Ten Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs of 2009.

On Friday of last week, ABR posted a six-and-a-half minute video look-back of their 2009 year on the road — mostly behind-the-scenes footage, with some slo-mo performance shots. I didn’t see anything from their September show in Seattle (with The Acacia Strain, My Children My Bride, and Impending Doom), but we don’t need a video reminder. That was one epic set that will stick in our memories for a while. They’re coming back to Seattle in late April, and you can bet your ass we’ll be there — even though we’ll have to pay the price of enduring some other, much less talented, barely metal bands on the bill (who shall remain nameless).

The video is kind of random in its selection of subject matter, and certainly won’t change your life, but these are likable guys and it shows.  And the video is worth watching if for no reason other than the fact that ABR chose “Meridian” as the musical accompaniment for about the last five minutes of the clip (not sure what song is rolling at the start, but it’s not metal).

This past weekend we finished dribbling out our list of the Ten Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs of 2010. Here’s the final line-up:

1.  Asphyx: Sorbutics

2.  Mastodon: Crack the Skye

3.  Amorphis: Silver Bride

4. Goatwhore: Apocalyptic Havoc

5.  August Burns Red: Meridian

6.  Pelican: Ephemeral

7.  Scale the Summit: Age of the Tide

8.  Daath: Wilting On the Vine

9.  Molotov Solution: The Harbinger

10. Revocation: Dismantling the Dictator

Yes, the list is finished — and for your listening pleasure, we’ve added a playlist of the listed songs to our MySpace page – with one slight alteration:  we couldn’t find Scale the Summit‘s “Age of the Tide” on MySpace, so our playlist includes another of our favorites tracks off Carving Desert Canyons.  

Even though we finished the list, your NCS Co-Authors had some infectious favorites that didn’t survive our final negotiations – but they just missed by a nose. So we’re going to roll those out later this week. It’s the next best thing to just reneging on our commitment to make this a list of the Top Ten and instead renaming it the Top Fourteen.

Here at NCS, we’re putting a different spin on year-end listmania. Ours isn’t a list of the best metal full-lengths of the year. It’s not even necessarily our list of the best individual extreme metal songs of the year. Ours is a list of the most infectious extreme metal songs we’ve heard this year. We’re talking about songs that produce involuntary physical movement and worm their way into your brain to such an extent you can’t get ‘em out (and wouldn’t want to).

We’re not ranking our list from #10 to #1 because that would be too much fucking work (and your co-Authors would still be arguing about it this time next year). So, our list is in no particular order. We’re also dribbling the songs out one at a time because your lazy Authors are still debating what belongs in the remaining slots. Our list heretofore:

1.  Asphyx:  Sorbutics

2.  Mastodon:  Crack the Skye

3.  Amorphis:  Silver Bride

4.  Goatwhore: Apocalyptic Havoc

And for our fifth entry on the list, continue reading after the jump.

Today’s entry on the NCS Most Infectious list is “Meridian” by metalcore juggernaut August Burns Red. All of us here at NCS have been ABR fans for a long time and we awaited the July release of the band’s third full-length, Constellations, like a pack of slavering wolves with the scent of a fresh kill in their nostrils. (OK, maybe that was a bit over the top; let’s just say we were really looking forward to it.) And Constellations didn’t disappoint. Nor did the band’s epic live performance when they stopped in Seattle in September.

While preserving ABR’s appealing mix of melodic riffage, ferocious vocals, and judiciously used breakdowns, Constellations revealed some interesting steps forward (and away) from the band’s previous releases, most notably in “Meridian.” There’s a pronounced prog-metal vibe to this song, and some truly inspired guitar work from JB Brubaker as he rings the changes on the melodic guitar theme that weaves its way through the song. And did we mention that it’s tremendously infectious? It is. All of your NCS Authors have found ourselves going back to it repeatedly since July.

You may have noticed that “Meridian” appears side-by-side on our Most Infectious List with Goatwhore’s “Apocalyptic Havoc.” No secret that Goatwhore’s lyricism is virulently anti-religious, while ABR’s lyrical themes reflect their Christian faith. There are fans of each band that wouldn’t be caught dead (or alive) in the company of the other’s. But the only litmus test for our Most Infectious list is that the songs have the best extreme grooves of the year, and by that test both songs belong. Ben Falgoust may chant “Who needs a god when you’ve got Satan,” and Jake Luhrs may quote from Jeremiah when he howls “I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt!” But on our list, those dudes are in a fellowship of extreme metal big enough to include them both.

Without further ado, have a listen to “Meridian”:

Meridian

(And the following is a little bit off-topic, but I stumbled across this Hardtimes.ca video interview of ABR drummer Matt Greiner, which impressed me. An uncommonly bright, articulate, thoughtful, kind-hearted dude. All the more impressive because of the way he handled some truly weird questions by his conspiracy-theorist interviewer.)

August Burns Red Interview HARDTIMES.CA

HARDTIMES.CA | MySpace Video

My co-Author IntoTheDarkness turned me on to Texas in July this past summer not long after they released their full-length CD I Am. I liked it immediately and have found myself going back to it periodically since then (and I’ll eventually explain why). When I first started listening to I Am, I knew nothing about the band and there wasn’t a lot to learn on the netz, though I did discover that despite their band name the guys were from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (As a native Texan, I was a little disappointed by that discovery, but managed to get over it.)

Recently, after one of my periodic returns to I Am, I decided to hunt the web again for more info and found a lot more than when I looked the first time 6 months ago. For one thing, the band’s MySpace page now shows more than 1 million song plays, which is a shit-load. And I found that the band had released an EP called Salt of the Earth in October 2008 (both releases are now available on iTunes).  I also found all sorts of on-the-surface reasons why the odds would be against me liking this band.

First, they’re really young (ages 16-18, and two of them still in high school) and I’m really not.  I’ve found very few metal bands that young who have enough song-writing sophistication and playing chops to be worth more than a brisk once-over. Second, look at that photo above: kind of screams “Emo!” doesn’t it? Third, their label (CI Records) bills them  as a Christian metalcore band. Now don’t get me wrong — they’re some bands stuck in that same genre pigeon-hole that I really like (e.g., August Burns Red) — but it’s not a long list. My tastes these days tend to run toward the more brutal end of the extreme metal spectrum.

But against all these odds, I’m still addicted to Texas in July. Call it a guilty pleasure. And the source of the appeal, as it should be, is the music. To explain . . .It’s plenty heavy — heavier than I would have expected based on the superficial facts listed above. Intricate, blistering drumwork meshed with melodic-death style, down-tuned riffing and plenty of crushing, layered breakdowns. And Alex Good delivers with a combination of outstanding hardcore howling and death-metal gutterals. But what really draws me back to I Am again and again are the melodic hooks worked into each song by the superb guitar work of Christian Royer. They make each song distinct and memorable, and ultimately that’s what brings me back to I Am — that combination of melodies that stick in my head, intelligently interwoven with honest, blast-furnace brutality.

And that turns the youthfulness factor of this band on its head — because they definitely don’t sound like a bunch of teenagers just starting out.  These guys are already accomplished song-writers and skilled musicians, way beyond their years. They remind me of three bands I like a lot rolled into one — Darkest Hour, August Burns Red, and Impending Doom. I’m truly perplexed about how these guys learned their craft so well at such an early age. And, by the way, where did 5 dudes from PA come up with a name like Texas in July?

Young they may be, but they’ve already had one traumatic experience most of us are lucky enough to avoid our whole lives: this past summer they had a head-on collision with another car while on tour.  It left all the band members with varying degrees of injury and cost the life of the other driver. Keep that in mind when you watch the following live performance video, which includes my favorite song off I Am,”It’s Not My First Rodeo.”  Royer and bassist Ben Witkowski use crutches to hobble on stage and then perform the set while seated, and through it all, while riffing the hell out of his guitar, Royer’s got the most infectious grin on his face. Ah, the resilience of youth . . . .

[Editor's Note: NO CLEAN SINGING was originally founded by three metalheads who go by the names of Islander, Alexis, and IntoTheDarkness. In this post, IntoTheDarkness tells you a little bit about himself, and below that, Alexis introduces herself. Islander hasn't yet written anything about himself, other than what you can read into what he writes on this site -- and this photo.]

Why is there such a separation within the metal scene? Why is it that if someone likes more than one distinct type of metal, he or she gets ridiculed? For example, if you’re someone who likes both death metal and deathcore, you are suddenly no longer a true metal fan.

It’s even worse if you’re me because I like a wide range of genres that include death metal, tech death, viking metal, folk metal, black metal, prog metal, post hardcore, deathcore, and even the occasional exception to the NCS rule. Not to mention, I do not look the part of virtually any metal scene so I am considered an outsider. Why does it have to be this way? What is wrong with liking both deathcore and death metal? I feel like they both have their pros and cons and which one I prefer to listen to depends largely on my mood. You see, I am a fan of the music itself not the scene that comes with it.

If I could do away with the bumbling douche bag hardcore dancers that think they are badass or the tool who thinks he is all that because he listens to only the classic death metal bands like Cannibal Corpse or Obituary, then I would. In fact,  I think that the metal scene would have not only a larger fan base but more success as well if the metal community would stop passing such harsh judgment on each other. Most of this judgment is passed on the people who like anything with a “core” attached to it.  Most of this judgment occurs because of the scene that is associated with the genre. Much of this scene consists of 15 year old idiots who like to wear uber tight pants combined with artificially straightened hair and eye make up. They must think that having what looks like a mop on top of their heads is some “sick-ass shit.” Regardless, the point is that I do not look anything like that and yet I am still judged for liking some deathcore bands. Why? To most of the population, deathcore is still metal, so what makes deathcore “unmetal” besides the stupid scene that goes along with it?

I believe that people within the metal community should like whatever genre they want to because they like the music and not because of the scene that is associated with that particular genre. Therefore, I thought I would conclude my rant with a list of my top 25 metal bands, in which I will include the genre of each band to show the variation of my tastes. AKA I don’t just like deathcore, unlike most of those scenester kiddies. So without further ado, here it is:

1. Gojira (Death Metal/Groove Metal)-The best band in the universe, bar none.

2. August Burns Red (Melodic Metalcore)

3. Ulcerate (Technical Death Metal)

4. Pelican (Instrumental/Post-Hardcore/Drone)

5. Between The Buried And Me (Progressive/Technical Metalcore)

6. Necrophagist (Technical Death Metal)

7. Swallow The Sun (Melodic Doom Metal

8. All Shall Perish (Deathcore)

9. Animals As Leaders (Experimental Progressive Metal)

10. Gorod (Technical Death Metal)

11. Permillisecond (Technical Death Metal)

12. Whitechapel (Deathcore)

13. Scale The Summit (Progressive Metal)

14. Amon Amarth (Viking Metal)

15. The Faceless (Technical Deathcore)

16. Molotov Solution (Deathcore)

17. Suffocation (Death Metal)

18. Dark Tranquility (Melodic Death Metal)

19. Revocation (Death/Thrash Metal)

20. In The Midst Of Lions (Deathcore)

21. Nile (Brutal Technical Death Metal)

22. Ensiferum (Viking/Folk Metal)

23. Amorphis (Melodic Metal)

24. Behemoth (Blackened Death Metal)

25. Dissection (Black Metal)